[Greek] θάπτω (thaptō), [Latin] sepelire, [Latin] cremitare: to bury, to entomb, to celebrate funeral rites; Mt.8:21-22, Mt.14:12, Lk.9:59-60, Lk.16:22, Acts 2:29, Acts 5:6,9-10, 1Cor.15:4
The Death of Ananias: painting by Raphael (1515). Ananias and Sapphira both lie to the Holy Spirit and later fall dead.
Background information:
Greek Hellenism: This term means to bury, to cremate, and to honor with funeral rites. Euripides’ Iphigenia in Tauris 1464 “You, Iphigenia, must be the keyholder for the goddess on the hallowed stairs of Brauron, and will die there and be buried.” Herodotus’ The Histories 7.228 states “There is an inscription written over these men, who were buried where they fell. It reads as follows: “Here four thousand from the Peloponnese once fought three million.”” Lycurgus’ Against Leocrates 1.113 states “ They decreed publicly, on the motion of Critias, that the dead man should be tried for treason, and that if it were found that this was a traitor who had been buried in the country, his bones should be dug up and removed from Attica.” Euripides’ Alcestis 632 states “As for your finery, she shall never wear it, for she needs nothing of yours for her burial.” Aristophanes’ Plutus states ” Oh! what a happy life, by Demeter! to live sparingly, to toil incessantly and not to leave enough to pay for a tomb!”
Old Testament: This term means to embalm, to spice, to bury, and to inter. Poetically, this term means to mature as the fig spices fills it fruit with aromatic juice. So the physicians embalmed Israel (Gen.50:2). Now forty days were required for it, such is the period required for embalming (Gen.50:3). The fig tree puts forth its figs; and the vines, in bloom, give forth fragrance. (Sng.2:13). You will buried at a good old age (Gen.15:15). So bury your dead (Gen.23:15). So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (Gen.36:19). His survivors will buried because of the plague (Job. 27:15). They buried the king in Samaria (1Kgs.22:37).
New Testament: This term, meaning to bury, makes reference to Jesus, family members, David, the rich man, and Ananias and Sapphira. The spiritually dead (those do not follow Jesus) must bury their dead. Jesus overrides this Hellenistic and Jewish obligation to parents. As a result of lying to the Holy Spirit, Ananias and Sapphira fall to their deaths. They also lie to their community.
Scripture:
“But Jesus answered him, ‘Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.’”Mt.8:21
Jesus’ demand to follow Him contrasts and overrides the worldly desire to follow human customs in burying loved ones. Jesus calls those who do not follow Him as spiritually dead.
“Then Peter said to her, ‘Why did you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen the footsteps of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’” Acts 5:9
Ananias, who tested (lied to) the Holy Spirit fell to his death. He misled the community. His death was his deception of the community.
Conclusion:
Epitaph, sepulcher, cremate, cremation
It was interesting to learn that burying the dead was of the most important practices in the Hellenistic traditions. The Greek writers make notice of this in honoring the Peloponnesians who lost in battle. The priestess, who controlled access (with a key) to the temple, will receive honor in our death.
In the Old Testament, this term also makes reference to vines giving forth fragrance. This relates to embalming (making fragrant) corpses.
In the New Testament, this term used to bury the dead. At first glance, this seems to sound like a harsh statement from Jesus. Even family ties must not distract from proclaiming the kingdom. Most notably, this term refers to the spiritually dead, and the soon to be dead Ananias and Sapphira who will lie to the Holy Spirit.
An epitaph is an inscription on a tomb or monument.
I really just thought that this mean just to bury. Well, that notion is certainly now dead and buried.
Update: Although this may sound Greek to you, there are actually three different Greek words for silence and silencing.
Sigao: To have silence. The context determines the nature of silence.
Hesuchazo: This refers to an absence of internal disturbance.
Phimoo: To shut the mouth like with a muzzle.
(From the melody of Simon & Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence)
Hello, readers, my old friends,
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left it seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains: my next three posts about silence.